Arthritis is my new friend. I thought it was due to the injuries I experienced as a child and young adult. I fell so much in college that some of my friends nicknamed me “ace bandage.” I wasn’t overweight then but now I know my weight exacerbates my clumsy problem. I decided to research which vegetables or oils would be beneficiary to arthritic people. It would help me, my husband and my mother.
To my surprise many of my favorite vegetables should be avoided. They are called the “nightshade” vegetables.
“The nightshades include numerous vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarillos, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, and cayenne peppers. Hot sauces made from the hot peppers are considered nightshades. Also, ground cherries, garden huckleberry, naranjillas, and even tobacco are considered nightshades.”
This article also questions if that is a fact for everyone or are some people more sensitive than others. I also read the a gluten-free diet would aid in relieving the pain caused by arthritis. That seems reasonable since gluten-free keeps popping up in all inflammatory ailments that I research. So here is my dilemma. I have decided to try a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan diet for the twenty-one days. Should I eliminate the nightshades also? I love most of the nightshades.
I find it interesting that the capsaicin in the peppers would be the reason they should be avoided. Capsaicin is in some popular arthritic pain ointments. I would also like to know how an american who grew up on potatoes and tomatoes will function without them? Can you hear that tiny violin?
In the 21 days I expect to change habits, detox and improve my spiritual well being. Still should nightshades be included in the experiment? Does anyone out there in healthy land have a suggestion? I will begin the fast on the 6th.
"Black Soil" Living 
I think if you do the challenge for 21 days and still have issues then try removing the nightshades. You are making huge changes and you may not know if it is something you really need to remove or not. In regards to gluten free, I had to move my daughter into that as she had chronic hives, swelling, and inflammation. While it was not her only probably it has made a huge difference in tummy and joint issues. I wish you luck in this challenge and remember it is progress not perfection that will lead you towards better health. I have to remind myself of that often.
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HI Pat. I believe that eliminating nightshade vegetables is a trial and error thing. Some are more sensitive to it than others. You can start by eliminating it a week at a time to see if there are any changes in how frequent you experience inflammation and pain. And I do recommend going gluten free and organic if you have arthritis. The less preservatives and additives and gluten you have in your diet, the less inflammation you have to deal with.
God bless and happy dieting! 🙂
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Thank you Samantha. I hope the fast is successful because I enjoy potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant.
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This response was to spedteachk2. But to Samantha I am enjoying organic. I made an organic, gluten-free and vegan mac and cheese for the holidays. It was also dairy-free. My family inhaled it and they are very picky when it comes to my mac and cheese. My sweet potatoe pie was dairy and gluten free but not good for vegans. I used one egg.
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